Chapter 3: Structure of the Human Brain: Forebrain Flashcards
Forebrain:
Highest level of the brain, coordinates higher level functions, such complex thinking, feeling, motivation, sensory and motor functions.
Divided into 2 parts: Cerebral cortex and the underlying subcortical structures.
Cerebral cortex:
Coordinates thinking, planning, judging, perceiving, behaving purposefully and voluntarily Divided into two hemispheres (the right and left hemispheres) Connected by the corpus callossum 4 lobes each: Occipital lobe Parietal lobe Temporal lobe Frontal lobe
Cerebral cortex: Gyrus:
The smooth surfaces of the cortex.
Cerebral cortex: Sulcus:
The indentations in the cortex.
Cerebral cortex: Corpus callosum:
A thick band of nerve fibres that connects the two hemispheres and supports communication of information across hemispheres.
Cerebral cortex: Contralateral control:
Each hemisphere controls the functions of the opposite side of the body.
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Occipital lobe:
Processes and makes sense of visual information (location and orientation).
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe:
Processes information about touch.
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe: Somatosensory cortex:
Responsible for processing sensations of skin areas.
Each part of the somatosensory cortex is devoted to a specific skin area.
If a body area is more sensitive = more somatosensory cortex is devoted to it.
Homunculus
Sensitivity of specific skin areas is illustrated with a little ugly man (lol).
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Parietal lobe: Mortex cortex:
Coordinates movements of muscle groups throughout the body.
Parallel strip of brain tissue to the somatosensory cortex.
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Temporal lobe:
Responsible for hearing and language.
Processes info about sounds and language.
Hearing and language.
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Temporal lobe: Primary auditory cortex:
Receives sensory information from the ears
Cerebral cortex: 4 Lobes: Frontal lobe:
Has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, judgement and anticipation.
Special - sets humans apart.
Subcortical structures: Basal ganglia:
Controls voluntary movements, habitual behaviours, and emotions.
Receives information from the cerebral cortex and sends it to motor centres in the brain stem.
Subcortical structures: Thalamus:
Receives and filters information from the senses and sends it to the cerebral cortex.
Sorts sensory information [being sent to the brain] and sends it to the cerebral cortex.
Subcortical structures: Hippocampus:
Creating and integrating new memories in other parts of the cerebral cortex.
Subcortical structures: Amygdala:
Plays a role in emotional processes and the formation of emotional memories.
Subcortical structures: Hypothalamus:
Regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behaviour.
Limbic system:
A group of forebrain structures involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory.
- hypothalamus
- hippocampus
- amygdala
Lateralization:
The tendency from some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialized in one side of the hemispheres.
Tendency for some functions to be specialized in one specific hemisphere.
Broca’s area:
Production of speech.
Wernicke’s area:
Language comprehension.
Language understanding.
